Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-03-16
HOME ADJUSTMENTS.
How to Entertain the Young Folks
inexpensive Dinners.

lHeT6 Is cOn5lueraDle discussion at
present over the question, "Why do
boys leave the farm?" One reason
may be found in the old adage "All
work and no play makes Jack a dull
boy" They have none of the amuse-
ments of a city boy (let US hope few OF
his temptatians). and none Of his possi-
bllities for intellectual recreation.
Fathers who may never have cared nor
have had time to think whether or not
they could care for books do not con-
sider that in this their children may
be step ahead of them, and that the
starvation OF mind which they have
hardly felt is hardship to their child
rem too great to be borne willingly.
am farmers daughter, and know
whereof l speak, when I write Of the
barrenness and monotony of life on
the farm. especially for the young peo-
PIE. We had access to no library;
novels were looked upon as an instltu-
tim of the arch-fiend himself; the books
of The family were solely religious ones
OF the driest description. / had one
resource, as did my brothers, that made
my life not only endurable but enioya-
bic. We had saddles and rode horse
back, and, as our father was fond OF
horses, we always had enough Of them
In the stables 10 crafty our fondnesS
for gallop when work would permit.
Besides there were many errands to be
done that could be accomplished quite
as well on horseback, and thus save the
time necessary for ''hitching up"
Gut here i'm California, farmers seem
to be somewhat IN advance Of those
in the East when I was young. lit
is many years since l left the farm
ami 1 cannot speak for the present
day.) 1t was my good fortune TO
spend few weeks recently on fruit
ranch near San Jose. The family
comprised several young people of both
sexes, and 1 was surprised at the cul-
ture and refinement 1 found among
them. There was nice library, a
piano and guitar, and, although none
of them were accomplished musicians,
there were some good voices not
wholly unframed, and l spent many
enjoyable evenings while with them.
One evening, the student" of the
family announced that he would per-
form some feats of magic, and was
kind enough to initiate me into the
secret of the tricks, which some of
your young readers may like to try.
\ coin was placed in basin Of water
and the company invited to take it out
without wetting the hand. or course
We all failed, except the student, who
performed this apparently incredible
feat. This was done by previously rub
bing the hand over with lycopodium
powder. A shake Of the hand after
ward will dislodge the powder, or the
litter may be sprinkled over the sur
face of the water.
His fire-eating performance was
looked upon with undisguised horror
and admiration by the little ones, 1t |
Is explained as follows: Procure piece !
of thick string, soaked in q solution of /
nitre. An Inch is sufficient for a single |
time. but it is better to prepare several |
inches at once. 1t must be allowed to |
dry after having been dipped in the |
of nitre. Cut off about an |
inch of the prepared string. wrap it in |
a piece Of tow, and held it in the left |
hand. With the right hand put some
LOW " Il.c Cllcn II anu
swallow it. Now, put into
your mouth that which you hold in
your left band, and at the same time |
take out that which you have already |
but this you must do unob-
served By the company. Draw in a
deep breath through the nostrils, and |
breathe it through the mouth. Repeat |
this inhaling and exhaling of the breath
a few times and smoke will issue forth, |
and the mouth, If opened wide, will be /
lighted with glow. When the mouth |
is shut and the tow pressed together. |
the FIRE will go out. The cost of these
will be the merest trlfle-
nothing II you have friend who is a
chemist, as it is too small to be COM
puted.
The production OF liquid from two
solids Is something calculated to make |
stare Get an ounce of |
powdered carbonate Of ammonia, an
equal quantity of powdered blue Wit
rlol, rub equal parts of these together
for few minutes in a mortar or bowl
and blue liquid will be formed. Sui
phate Of soda, powdered, and acetate !
Of lead will so produce liquid.
The transformation liquid is very |
pretty and interesting.
Get solution of calstie potash, one
ounce, and powdered nitrate of cobalt
with the caustlc potash, when the de-
of the salt and precipita-
ton of blue oxide of cobalt will take /,
place. Cork the bottle and the liquid /
will first assume a blue color, will pass
TO lilac, afserward to peach tint
and finally turn light red.